Moment launches camera app with focus on manual control

Moment, the makers of high-end accessory lenses for smartphones, have announced the newly revamped Moment camera app for iPhone and Android. According to Moment the app "provides full manual control and a DSLR shooting experience" and it looks like the programmers have tried their best to turn the marketing promises into reality. A basic version of the app has been available for a couple of years on iOS, but this launch marks a major redesign with manual controls added, as well as support for Android users for the first time.

The app offers full manual control over exposure, ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance via on-screen sliders. You can double-tap the screen to separate focus and exposure and on the iPhone version there is even a dual-stage shutter with half and full press, thanks to Apple's 3D Touch technology.

Photographers can shoot in Raw mode and select from HEIF, HEVC, TIFF, and JPEG image formats. In video mode you can change framerate and video modes from the main screen, without a need to dive into the menu.

If you own a smartphone with dual-camera, the Moment app allows you to manually control which camera module you want to shoot with. This feature is especially useful when using Moment or other accessory lenses. Other features include a Live Histogram and Auto Video Stabilization.

The app is free to download and try but you'll have to invest $2.99 for the iOS version and $1.99 for the Android version to get access to the complete feature set.

Comments

Biggest problem with “manual controls” here is that the device is a slippery bar of soap, with no buttons on it!

When you’re taking a photograph you need intuitive controls that you can manipulate while holding your camera steady. And if you can’t do the latter, or difficult to do both, then there’s a limit to what you can get.

Which means than when the camera is a smartphone, automatic mode is always going to be the best concept, so that you can at least try to hold steady.

Had it been a news for 5 years ago it would've made sense. Now most mobile phone camera comes with similar manual features. The UI looks nice that that doesn't justify limited features like 1/10 Sec minimum shutter speed... as my not so expensive Android mobile has 8sec sutters speed in manual mode.

Shame on Moment and DPR for using this picture of someone defacing a nice piece of Frank Geary designed public art by running up it! Our younger generation does not need additional inspiration for how they can ruin things for the rest of us by creating more shocking "look at me" pictures.

Very nice UI, unfortunately it doesn't work with the "Hasselblad True Zoom" Moto Mod for the Moto Z handset family – seems to require Camera2 API which the TrueZoom doesn't seem to implement. Bummer, and I guess the TrueZoom people are to blame, but that's how it is.

Moment lens and app user here (iOS). Without HDR the stock camera app is still lightyears better. Moment, get HDR or don't bother. Cellphones have VERY limited dynamic range, what's the use of adding a fake sky in post-processing when a dedicated camera or the stock app will do a better job the first time?

It's important to understand that the app only uses the features which are provided via CameraAPI. If The Pixel (1st Gen) and Pixel 2 only offer 0.7 sec respectively 4 secs of shutter speed longest exposure, then the app can be fantastic, but still won't offer anything near a G4 LG with 30 seconds... as an example. So you can use any other app which uses CameraAPI2 and see how that works before purchasing this app. This Moment Camera app won't work different, it's just the UI which might be good or not (depending on your usage). Try OpenCamera first - it's free and has the very same manual controls.

All nice, but when will we see a camera app which will offer the possibility to dial down the noise reduction? It's the one feature I'm actually looking for (though the histogram in this one is nice to have as well).

If on android check out A Better Camera (don't know about iOS). Several of the modes DRO, HDR (others?) include settings for noise reduction levels. ABC also includes a Super mode that uses multiple frames to generate a higher resolution image from actual data (not interpolated) and the resulting image has noticeably more detail with less NR and sharpening applied than the stock camera (on my Galaxy S7).

Well, it IS just $2-$3. I can’t believe some of the Debbie Downers getting their panties in a bunch over a cheap cell phone app. I’m seeing this as fun to have around when I don’t care enough to bring my DSLR. Maybe I’d be more particular if I didn’t have that but then I’d expect to spend more than $3 for a more substantial app.

I have found Camera+ to do a lot of this, so I look forward to the comparisons. I use the Moment Wide and Tele lenses on my Plus phone to give me a roughly 16-115mm (equiv.) optical reach, and it's great.

WoW! Full-manual control dSLR-like experience! Pulling a shot in broad daylight washes out color contrast in display regardless if it is $2k phone. It even wash-out the most exemplary expensive dSLR cameras' LCDs. To make White Balance tweak works don't forget to bring a shroud with you. Or a hood twice the size of the palm to block out extraneous light hitting the LCD.

Latest in-depth reviews

Canon's EOS R, the company's first full-frame mirrorless camera, impresses us with its image quality and color rendition. But it also comes with quirky ergonomics, uninspiring video features and a number of other shortcomings. Read our full review to see how the EOS R stacks up in today's full-frame mirrorless market.

No Nikon camera we've tested to date balances stills and video capture as well as the Nikon Z7. Though autofocus is less reliable than the D850, Nikon's first full-frame mirrorless gets enough right to earn our recommendation.

Nikon's Coolpix P1000 has moved the zoom needle from 'absurd' to 'ludicrous,' with an equivalent focal length of 24-3000mm. While it's great for lunar and still wildlife photography, we found that it's not suited for much else.

The Nikon Z7 is slated as a mirrorless equivalent to the D850, but it can't subject track with the same reliability as its DSLR counterpart. AF performance is otherwise good, except in low light where hunting can lead to missed shots.

Latest buying guides

What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Sony mirrorlses cameras in several categories to make your decisions easier.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Canon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Nikon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.

What’s the best camera for less than $1000? The best cameras for under $1000 should have good ergonomics and controls, great image quality and be capture high-quality video. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing under $1000 and recommended the best.

Canon's EOS R, the company's first full-frame mirrorless camera, impresses us with its image quality and color rendition. But it also comes with quirky ergonomics, uninspiring video features and a number of other shortcomings. Read our full review to see how the EOS R stacks up in today's full-frame mirrorless market.

We spoke to wildfire photographer Stuart Palley about his experiences shooting the recent Woolsey fire, why the Nikon Z7 isn't quite ready to take a permanent spot in his gear bag, and 'that' Tweet from Donald Trump.

The Z7 presented Nikon with a stiff challenge: how to build a mirrorless camera that measures up to its own DSLRs and can deliver a familiar experience to Nikon users. Chris and Jordan tell us whether they think Nikon succeeded.

Nikon has released firmware version 1.02 that resolves a flickering issue when scrolling through images, an ISO limitation problem, and an occasional crash that could occur when displaying certain Raw files.

The Insta360 One X is the company's latest consumer 360-degree camera, supporting 5.7K video, including excellent image stabilization, as well as 18MP photos. And, in our experience, it's a really fun camera to use.